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| September Keaveny Connection |
Contact: Stacy Morse (573) 751-3599 |
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| Veto Session is Sept. 10 | |||
Veto session will begin on Sept. 10, and promises to be an interesting few days here in the Capitol. The Missouri Constitution requires the General Assembly to "automatically reconvene on the first Wednesday following the second Monday in September for a period not to exceed ten [10] calendar days for the sole purpose of considering bills" vetoed "by the governor." (Article III, Section 32) While the constitution does not specify the time for the veto session to begin, both the Senate and House traditionally convene at noon. The Constitution also requires the governor to act on the entire bill, except for the budget measures: "The governor may object to one or more items or portions of items of appropriation of money in any bill presented to him, while approving other portions of the measure. On signing it he shall append to the bill a statement of the items or portions of items to which he objects and such items or portions shall not take effect." (Article IV, Section 26) This year, the governor vetoed 34 bills and made line-item vetoes in 13 budget bills. To become a law, bills must pass each branch of the Legislature by a simple majority vote (18 votes in the Senate and 82 votes in the House) and be signed by the governor. But if the governor vetoes a bill, the constitution requires a two-thirds vote in each house (109 votes in the House, 23 votes in the Senate) in order to make the bill a law, "the objections of the governor thereto notwithstanding." (Article III, Section 32) The attempt to override a measure must begin in the chamber that the measure originated. That means the line-item vetoes of budget bills also start in the House. The second chamber never gets a chance to consider a veto if the first chamber can't reach a two-thirds vote. |
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| Legislative Award | |||
On Sept. 10, I will be given the legislative award from the Missouri Bar during their annual service Award Luncheon. Missouri Bar President Jack Brady said reasons for choosing to honor me with this award including their desire to recognize my efforts to shepherd proposals of The Bar’s Probate and Trust Law Committee to final passage, in Senate Bill 500. These are revisions that will help the public by establishing a means to know in advance whether a challenge to a will or trust will cause someone to forfeit their inheritance due to an “in terrorem” cause. The Bar also thank me for my support of the criminal code revision and the non-partisan court plan. |
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| 96 Elephants Campaign | |||
I have joined thousands of others in supporting the “96 Elephants”campaign. I am a huge supporter of the St. Louis Zoo and I was honored to be a part of a ceremony that recognized the hard work of three dedicated zookeepers in our state. On Aug. 8, I joined the governor and three zookeepers from across the state to present them with letters from children that support the campaign. Sheila Samek, from Dickerson Park Zoo, has been a zookeeper for almost 15 years. Katie Muninger, from the Kansas City Zoo, has been an assistant supervisor there for seven years. Katie Pilgram-Kloppe has spent the last five years as an elephant caretaker for the zoo’s family of 10 Asian Elephants. She is the lead trainer for Priya – the zoo’s one-year-old elephant and the first ever born at the St. Louis Zoo. They were presented letters written by elementary school students across the state. The letters include the children’s reasons for wanting to save elephants. Some of the messages read, “Save the Elephants,” “Don’t Turn Your Back on Me,” and “Peace in the World for Ivory-one.” Ninety-six elephants are illegally killed for the ivory found in the elephants’ tusks every day in Africa. Missouri’s accredited zoos have joined more than 110 Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) zoos that are part of the “96 Elephants” campaign. This campaign has three goal: – to secure a U.S. moratorium on illegal ivory; to reinforce the protection of African elephants; and to inform the public about the link between ivory consumption and the elephant poaching crisis. The public can join the zoos in the fight to save elephants in the wild by adding their names to an online petition at www.96elephants.org. Signatures will be sent to Missouri’s elected officials in Washington, D.C. |
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| Take Part in Education Standards Working Groups | |||
I encourage each and every qualified citizen of the 4th District to apply to become a member of the upcoming Education Standards Working Groups, which will begin creating the new Missouri Learning Standards this October. The groups will collaborate to establish new educational benchmarks for students in the Show-Me State. During the 2014 session, the Legislature approved House Bill 1490, which, among other provisions, establishes workgroups that will create the new Missouri Learning Standards. I strongly encourage parents and local educators to apply as members of these groups. This is an effort to create learning standards that best fit our state and its students, maintaining the local control we need to give our children a world class education. It’s incredibly important that citizens in our district have a hand in the establishment of these new benchmarks. Please consider applying. St. Louis needs to have a strong voice in this process The nominees will be appointed. Thirty-two members will be appointed. Of those, 16 will be parents and 16 will be education professionals. Appointees will fill a total of eight workgroups, with specific groups for English, Science, Math and Social Studies for grades K-5; and workgroups for the same subjects for grades 6-12. Appointees may serve in more than one workgroup. In order to be considered an education professional, the nominee must be a Missouri resident for at least three years, and have taught in the workgroup’s subject area for at least 10 years or have 10 years of experience in that subject area. To apply for the workgroups, click here or visit Keaveny's official Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/keaveny and click on the “Education Standards Working Group" button on the right side of the page. Potential nominees will go through a background check and may be contacted by an investigator. Workgroups are scheduled to begin meeting Oct. 1, 2014. |
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| Secretary of State Releases Online Tool for Small Business Owners | |||
Secretary of State’s new online system eases filing of certain forms for business owners in Missouri. Previously, only five forms could be filed online; the new system allows almost every form that must be filed with the Secretary of State to be submitted through the website. Making these forms available online not only eases the burden on business owners, it also utilizes technology which reduces red tape and streamlines an old, outdated process. I strongly encourage business owners in our area to try out the new system. From one location, www.sos.mo.gov/fileonline, small business owners can create or amend filings for their businesses or nonprofit organizations. The site increases the available filings from five to 35, and also gives customers access to their filing history, which aids in future filings. During his time in office, the Secretary of State has attempted to make more state services available online, including voter registration. The online registration program allows eligible Missourians to fill out registration forms online for the first time or change their registration address. For more information on the online business registration system, visit www.sos.mo.gov/fileonline. For help navigating the new system, contact the business services division at the Secretary of State’s office at (888) 223-6535. |
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| MO HealthNet For Kids | |||
Missourians are being encouraged to take a moment to read and understand the benefits of MO HealthNet for Kids. Medicaid and CHIP provide no-cost or low-cost health coverage for eligible children in Missouri. Even if your children have been turned down in the past or you don’t know if they qualify, you may be able to get health coverage for them now. Medicaid and CHIP provide health coverage for children so that they can get routine check-ups, immunizations and dental care to keep them healthy. They can also get doctor visits, prescription medications and hospital care when they’re sick, and much more. MO HealthNet for Kids can be reached by calling 1-888-275-5908, or call the statewide information line 1-855-373-9994. Click here to find out if you are eligible for benefits or find answers to other frequently asked questions. |
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| Legal Assistance Sessions Available for Entrepreneurs | |||
The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) is offering no cost legal assistance to entrepreneurs at all stages of business development. SLATE recently added Legal Clinics to services, designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with solutions to legal challenges while offering significant savings.
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| Healthy Kids Express to Make Stops in 4th District | |||
The St. Louis Children's Hospital pediatric mobile health unit, Healthy Kids Express, will be making a series of stops in the Fourth District. The pediatric mobile program provides free health care services to underserved children. Those attending may receive hearing and vision screenings, anemia and lead testing, scoliosis checks, immunizations, dental care and asthma management. Children ages one through 18 years old are eligible for care in the program. Healthy Kids Express will be making stops from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at:
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